Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

The spread of cancer cells represents 90% of cancer-related deaths in solid tumours. Within a tumour, small fractions of cells detach, move through the tissue into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. These cells enter new tissues and form secondary tumours that are highly aggressive, resulting in poor patient survival. To initiate this process, tumour cells undergo changes that enable detachment, mobility and survival while avoiding an attack by the immune system. Many of these changes occur when tumour cells communicate with the surrounding tissue cells. One of the major forms of contact is through transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) which is produced by many cell types around the tumour. TGF beta is important for tumour growth as it manipulates immune cells for protection and triggers the changes in tumour cells that enable them to spread throughout the body. This project will focus on creating antibody drugs that will block TGF beta; contact around the tumour to stop cells from spreading and redirect the immune system against the tumour. We will test the best antibodies for their influence on the immune system and tumour growth, providing a tool that scientists can use to better understand how cancer cells spread and recruit the immune system. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to create a new drug that can be used by physicians to treat patients that have aggressive cancer. The success of this project will greatly benefit Canada as the proposed drug has the potential to save lives, thus reducing the economic burden associated with aggressive cancers and demonstrates Canada's support for advancing medical technology to improve patient care worldwide.